Friday, October 26, 2018

Fri-Yay: The Conners Premieres to Praise and Strong Ratings; COZI TV Celebrates The Nanny's 25th Anniversary with Marathon

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

The Conners

by Vincent

The Conners made its big debut last week, and it did so to surprisingly strong reviews and ratings that...well, might seem slightly underwhelming, but still comfortably outperformed just about every other network TV show this season. The series bowed to a strong 2.4 in the demo, and in its second week, fell to a 1.7 (all while facing the World Series). Those ratings are definitely smaller than what Roseanne's reboot were doing, but they are still easily ABC's strongest comedy, and even if it falls a bit more, should have no problem seeing a renewal.

So how is the show? Critics seem to be pretty high on it. While I was never a huge Roseanne fan, I appreciate the original series' commitment to serious storytelling that shined a light on tough issues. The Conners seems to be on this path. Killing Roseanne off seems a bit harsh, but doing it due to an opioid addiction (established in the revival season) actually seems like the least obnoxious way to go about it (certainly a lot better than the ridiculous manner Two and a Half Men killed Charlie Sheen's character off.) It allows the show to utilize the dramatic storytelling that worked so well for Roseanne. Another strength is of course, the cast. The cast really gets an opportunity to shine, and Roseanne Barr being absent allows the show to give more screentime to actors like Sara Gilbert and John Goodman, who do a fantastic job in the series.

Of course, it will be interesting to see if interest can sustain itself over the long haul, or whether hype will fade in much the same way it has for Will & Grace (which is performing only marginally now after a strong start.) We'll see if The Conners can keep up its initial hype and goodwill and maintain its quality, but for now, it's one of the more interesting sitcoms to keep an eye on.


Nannyversary

While the beloved lead character Fran Fine was always cagey about her true age, there is no denying that this is the year The Nanny turns twenty-five. COZI TV will celebrate this special anniversary on November 3 with an all-day marathon counting down the twenty-five most beloved episodes. Featuring Fran Drescher herself in the on-air packaging and promotion, the marathon begins at 6:30 AM and runs through 7:00 PM. Visit COZITV.com for episode and schedule information and click here to view a promo. Debuting on November 3, 1993, The Nanny ran six seasons with 146 episodes airing between 1993 and 1999. The show catapulted Fran Drescher into global stardom and later became an enduring fan favorite in syndication.

Episodes featured in the Nanny-versary marathon include landmarks like their engagement and wedding, as well as favorites like "My Fair Nanny," where Fran gets an etiquette lesson from Maxwell and butler Niles so she can hold a proper mother-daughter tea with Maxwell's daughter. Also included in the marathon is "Where's the Pearls," when Fran loses guest star Elizabeth Taylor’s pearls and "The Honeymoon's Overboard" in which Fran and Maxwell as they adapt to living on a deserted island after falling off a yacht on their honeymoon. The Nanny is a classic fish out of water tale that follows Queens native Fran Fine, played by Drescher, who finds herself becoming the nanny to three children of a wealthy English widower, Maxwell Sheffield. Plenty of hilarious and heartwarming moments ensue, as Fran adjusts to life with the Sheffield family – and begins a long roller coaster romance with Mr. Sheffield.

The Nanny airs on COZI TV Monday through Friday from 12 AM to 2 AM, and from 10 AM to 11 AM. It also airs Sunday afternoons at 1 PM. The show won an Emmy Award and was nominated for eleven others.




Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, May 9

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 5)

Friday, May 9

  • Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Watch Paul on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Matt Bomer (Mid-Century Modern) - Matt appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Asif Ali (Deli Boys) and Saagar Shaikh (Deli Boys) - Asif and Saagar are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Busy Philipps (Girls5eva/Vice Principals/Cougar Town/Love, Inc.) - Busy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Christine Baranski (The Big Bang Theory/Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) - Christine talks about Nine Perfect Strangers on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Holly Robinson Peete (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper/For Your Love/Like Family/Love, Inc.) - Holly swings by for a chat about her new film Hats Off to Love on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) and Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother/Free Spirit) - NBC's Today catches up with Sarah and Alyson in the 9am hour.
  • Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - In this a little bit extra episode Drew shares more of her conversation with Brooke at the news desk on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Rebel Wilson (Super Fun Night) - Rebel joins Sherri to talk about starring in the new film Juliet & Romeo, so check your local listings.
  • Terri J. Vaughn (She the People/Mann & Wife/Meet the Browns/All of Us/The Steve Harvey Show) - Terri talks about starring in the new Netflix series She the People on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Julia Sweeney (Shrill/Work in Progress/Maybe It's Me/George and Leo) and Marsha Mason (Grace and Frankie/The Middle/Sibs) - Julia and Marsha talk about My First Ex-Husband on PIX11 Morinng News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

05/08 - CBS 2025-26 Schedule; Animal Control and Going Dutch Renewed by Fox
05/07 - Netflix's A Man on the Inside Bulks Up Cast for Season 2; The Studio Renewed by Apple TV+
05/06 - Netflix's Long Story Short Announces Cast; NBC Renews All Chicago Series for 2025-26
05/05 - Antenna TV's The Partridge Family Mother's Day Marathon; Rewind TV's 227 40th Anniversary Marathon
05/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 5, 2025)
05/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Equalizer; Wisteria Lane Offshoot of Desperate Housewives in the Works
05/02 - USA and SYFY Announce Summer Premieres; CBC in Canada Renews 5 Series, Including Wild Cards
05/01 - ABC Summer 2025 Schedule; Audible Scripted Comedy Podcasts for Summer
04/30 - The Carol Burnett Show Mother of All Marathons; Netflix Renews North of North
04/29 - Lifetime Adds New Ripped from the Headlines Movie; BET+ Orders Season 2 of Series
04/28 - Fox Summer 2025 Schedule; Final Guest Hosts for Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Season
04/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 28, 2025)
04/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels Poppa's House; Final Season 50 Hosts for Saturday Night Live Set
04/25 - Classic TV's Biggest Auction; Remembering Will Hutchins and Wink Martindale
04/24 - Jerrod Carmichael's 4th HBO Comedy Special; HBO's Pee-wee as Himself Premieres May 23
04/23 - Apple TV+ Announces Comedy Series Prodigies; ABC Renews Unscripted Series Slate
04/22 - Hallmark Channel's May For Moms Month; Prime Video Gets Korean Comedy Action Series
04/21 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Returns July 31; Poker Face Lines Up Big Guests for Season 2
04/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 21, 2025)
04/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Clueless Reboot in the Works at Peacock; King of the Hill Cast Reunion and Revival Preview at ATX TV Festival Next Month
04/18 - 2025 TIME100 on ABC; Atsuko Okatsuka: Father Premieres June 13 on Hulu
04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July
04/16 - And Just Like That... Season 3 on Max This May; MGM+ Comedy Series Adds Big Stars
04/15 - HBO's Harry Potter Series; Classic TV Comes to Life in NYC
04/14 - TV Stars Lineup for Summer of 69 Hulu Film; Jessica Kirson Comedy Special
04/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 14, 2025)
04/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: FX Sets Premiere Date for Adults; Netflix Picks Up Monopoly Themed Reality Competition Series
04/11 - Bounce TV Renews Mind Your Business; AMC Networks 2025 Upfront Highlights
04/10 - David Spade's Prime Video Comedy Special; Brett Goldstein's HBO Comedy Special Filmed in New Jersey
04/09 - Paramount+ Orders Season 3 of Colin from Accounts; FX's Adults Premieres May 28
04/08 - Prime Video's New Comedy Overcompensating; Nine Perfect Strangers Returns on Hulu in May